Coffey County is throwing its hat into the ring to bring in a second nuclear power plant.
County commissioners approved this month a resolution declaring their interest in becoming home to a cutting-edge Natrium nuclear reactor in development.
Evergy, the state’s largest energy provider, announced in September it was teaming with TerraPower to explore site location for a Natrium reactor.
The proposed plant would be much smaller than Coffey County’s Wolf Creek Nuclear Generating Station, which has been in operation for the past 40 years.
“We are not just ready for a project like this; we are the perfect fit,” Coffey County Commission Chairman Wayde Thomsen said in a news release. “Our legacy as the proud home of Wolf Creek has forged a powerful bond with Evergy. We are excited to build on that decades-long partnership by welcoming TerraPower to our community and securing our role as a leader in the future of energy.”
For starters, the proposed plant would consist of a Natrium reactor, which utilizes sodium as a cooling agent instead of water.
“It’s going to take a lot less water to operate, and would cover a much smaller footprint,” noted Jenny Tatman, Coffey County’s economic development director.
The proposed plant would generate up to 345 megawatt hours of electricity. Wolf Creek — the state’s sole nuclear plant in operation — generates 1,200 megawatt hours.
Tatman noted the county hosted a series of town hall meetings earlier this year, where citizens voiced overwhelming support for expanding nuclear power opportunities.
Additionally, the county already has a partnership in place with Flint Hills Technical College to train future employees at Wolf Creek, and a fully developed infrastructure and emergency management protocol to support nuclear energy.
Coffey County’s proposal would “remove uncertainties and create a turnkey environment for this project,” Tatman said. “Our message to TerraPower and Evergy is simple. We are supportive, and we are ready to get to work.”
Coffey County is in the midst of developing a new comprehensive plan, Tatman noted.
“One of the key pillars is continuing to support projects around nuclear energy in our county.”
LYON County officials also have appealed to Evergy and TerraPower. The companies are expected to make a decision sometime in the next year.
If approved, the Kansas plant would be the second such Natrium reactor in the country.
A similar plant is being built near a retiring coal plant in Kemmerer, Wyoming. Construction began in June 2024 and is expected to be completed in 2030.
